A novel manoeuvre in a case of foreign body esophagus: An unusual management of a usual presentation

Abstract

Introduction: Although considered to be a safe and uneventful procedure, retrieval of a foreign body from the esophagus can occasionally lead to complications such as perforation, fistula, and mediastinitis, especially with sharp objects such as pins or bones. Milder objects such as coins and marbles are usually managed conservatively but sometimes may require general anaesthesia for retrieval. Although less traumatic to the mucosa, a smooth round foreign body such as a marble is difficult to extract with routine grasping instruments like a Magill forceps. Case: We describe a case of an eight year old male child, who presented to the emergency department with history of ingesting a marble, and a novel yet simple manoeuvre, to minimise chances of downward displacement and maximise chances of successful and atraumatic extraction with minimal manipulation of trachea and esophagus.

Keywords

• Sellick’s manoeuvre
• Foreign body esophagus
• Rigid esophagoscopy